Soo, we have religion and politics, well I'm throwing in a new one...Race.
So, I quite like The Last Airbender. Thought is was a decent cartoon. They have a live action film of it coming out soon, and it's already got fans arguing. The cartoon, for those who don't know, is heavily influenced by the East Asian culture. The characters in the cartoon are ethnically ambiguous, but quite diverse. However, in this film all the heroes are white, and the villains are all dark skinned.
"The Last Airbender Movie Cast - Explained in 60 seconds "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUsssUaVGmw
I think Anng has two n's in it...sorry if I have spelt it wrong...
I think Anng has two n's in it...sorry if I have spelt it wrong...
Actually it's spelt 'Aang'. :3
But I thought the film was just called 'The Last Airbender' anyway?
I hate the fact it has been all blown out of proportion. Yeah Hollywood is slightly racist, and they are obviously catering to the racist masses in the US by changing the skin colour of the main cast.
But to be honest, although it was Asian-influenced, the world is a fantasy world and therefore the characters are not actually Asian. Their ethnicities are either Air Nomad, Water Tribe, Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom.
M Night Shymalan explained that in his version of the show (note HIS VERSION - not a direct copy of the show) he has made it so each nation is a certain ethnicity.
Fire Nation = South Asian/Middle-Eastern/Indian etc
(also the idea that they are dark skinned because they are the villains doesn't fly given what any fan of the series knows about the true characters of some of the Fire Nation people (ie] Zuko, Iroh, Mai, Avatar Roku etc) Plus M Night Shymalan is 'dark skinned', so he has his reasons. He probs just loves Fire Nation/ Zuko's character and wanted them to be of the same race as him.
Southern Water Tribe = Inuit
Northern Water Tribe = Caucasian
This is where it gets interesting and a bit silly. So rather than have all the Water Tribe being Inuit in ethnicity, Shymalan split it into Inuit and Caucasian. Since Sokka and Katara's grandmother, Kana, was originally from the Northern Water Tribe, that is why both of her grandchildren are white (despite the fact that statistically since their father is half Inuit and mother full Inuit, it is very unlikely for both children to be so caucasian)
I'm not too keen on this change, as I love the character designs for Katara and Sokka from the series, but whatever. Tis a film. I can deal with it, because it isn't exactly gonna cancel out canon, right?
Earth Nation = Asian
There you go. Toph WILL be cast as Asian, as all the Earthbenders so far have been.
As for Aang, he never looked particularly Asian, and Noah Ringer (the kid playing him in The Last Airbender) looks almost identical to the character design in the show.
Once again, I will stress how the show is set in a FANTASY world with INFLUENCE from cultures existing in our world, but it doesn;t follow that those characters are actually of that ethnicity.
Films adapt from source material, and in doing so it doesn't take anything away from the awesomeness of said source material.
People getting their panties in a bunch over "racebending" in a film should just take a chill pill and realise how the adaptation process works. They don't have to see the film - they can easily buy and rewatch the cartoon.
/rant
>>6, but you have to admit, this would have been a good oppurtunity to showcase fine Asian talent. Plus, films that have a base in a certain country usually use the same race. For example, all the protagonists from Lord of the Rings were white. No one complained because the idea of Lord of the Rings was Nordic mythology. So even though its a fantasy world, they still followed it's base.
In the same way Dragon Ball the film ended up with a mostly caucasion cast, it's frustrating for fans who wanted to see more diversity or something more accurate to the original story/ cartoon/ or whatever.
While the characters are drawn ambiguously (ambiguous meaning, they lack strong streotypical features- xioalin showdown) there is chinese caligraphy, asian dress sense, martial arts, and what the cartoon directers said themselves that it was based off eastern mythology and culture. I mean...c'mon, you gotta see where people are coming from.
As for 'slightly racist' it's more to do with Hollywoods dodgy history. Lets not forget that in films, white people would paint their faces and act out caricature black characters, because black people were so prejudiced against. People want to move as far away from that as possible, and Asian's put into the roles of anti-heroes, villains and extra's, while heroes are caucasion, desn't look good.
And some people won't watch the film, due to accusations of 'white washing' meaning the studio will lose money.
But yeah, Toph, going by what you've said, will be asian, which will hopefully make some people feel it's more equal representation.
In conclusion, I do agree with you that we shouldn't get too stressed over things (especially cartoons and films) but at the same time, we shouldn't be too relaxed and let things slide either.
Okay, I'm sorry, but isn't true anti-racism just ignoring the fact that people have a different colour skin than you? So what if the Fire Nation are asian? That doesn't mean the directors are saying every asian person is an evil, power-hungry, fire-wielding bad guy now, does it?
what? No of course not. Just read my post again...or at least my post at number 8 if you can't be bothered. If you don't get what I'm trying to say then there's no reasoning with you...
>>7 Sorry but your bit about Dragonball Evolution made me lol. For one thing, Dragonball was also set in a fantasy world, and was not set in Asia. Goku was an alien and therefore not Asian - so casting a caucasian was not such a horrific thing. And saying it was a mostly caucasian cast when Master Roshi, Yamcha and ChiChi were all cast as Asians is a little odd. That is half the main cast right there.
But yes, I do see where people are coming from when they go on about the racebending and stuff. I just get annoyed when people go on about it so much when I am sure it will be a perfectly enjoyable film regardless and it will take nothing away from the experience of the original and superior cartoon series.
Even if all the anti-racebending people boycott, it is guaranteed success as a Summer blockbuster in 3D. I know so many people who are planning on seeing it. Plus the anti-Twilighters will likely see it to avoid Eclipse, so boycotting won't really change anything.
>>11 "Sorry but your bit about Dragonball Evolution made me lol."
Again, my Lord of the Rings example.
I don't mind about the film doing well (I'm not part of racebending and havn't mentioned boycotting it) I just think that people noting and challenging any kind of (possible) discrimination isn't racist- it's needed and acceptable.
I can't wait for this movie. I don't watch the cartoon series on Nickelodeon but the trailers are looking good. M Night Shymalan did a great job.
I can't wait for this movie. I don't watch the cartoon series on Nickelodeon but the trailers of the movie are looking good. M Night Shymalan did a great job.
>>14 I suppose you mean 'great job' in the general film sense, as you didn't watch the cartoon series and so cannot compare it to it's source material...
Well, the whole racial debate leaves me all... well, I don't really mind... I just think that the differences are too marked... and to be fair... Ozai is in his early thirties, for God's sake! (What, yeah, I don't really like their choice of actors...) Anyway... some parts kinda make my enthusiasm falter a bit... And I - on the whole - didn't like his previous movies at all... and I'm always skeptical when people are to adapt a cartoon or a book that I loved. Queen of the Damned is still fresh
Also, speaking of LOTR... from what I read in Tolkien, elves and humans ARE 'caucasian' types - though, try and find people being 2m tall... Oh well.
Since I watched the serie - and loved it - I agree with Moonphase on the whole.
RachelCabbit > As for people going to see AtlA to avoid Twilight... I have a better one! Don't go to the cinema and save the money to buy dvds.
And if the promise of a 3D movie is enough to make people watch a movie...
I watched the original series of Avatar, and I'm looking forward to the film, I really don't see why there is so much of a debate about the film and it's apparent racism.
It's a film, actors are chosen for their talent, perhaps there are more suited Asian actors, but maybe they had no interest in being involved in a Hollywood film? Perhaps they were asked and had other commitments? Or M. Night Shymalan, being the picky guy he is, had people in mind and has cast them. It can be said that the cast is not diverse, but can't that be said about any film?
Shouldn't we just judge the film on it's other content, the actual acting, the choreography of the martial arts, the graphics, it's trueness to the plot?
Apparently the boy who plays Aang never acted before the film.
Most of the time, I don't care about race (why would I?) However, I think, in context of the cartoon, its message and Hollywood history, race does matter in this situation. I think to ignore what racebenders were arguing is to 'put one's head in the sand.'
But no matter, it is out now. I am not a 'boycott' advocate, and it's fine with me if the film is a sucess. I'm interested to know what reviews the film will get (on acting and other content >>17 mentioned.)
Well isn't that a success in it's own right? New actors emerging?
I doubt M. Night cast out of pure ignorance, and who knows what pressures were placed on him. Perhaps it was pressure from financial backers?
It is a shame that the film cannot be made in a way that reflects the ethnicity of the different tribes and areas in the vast world, but that is how the cookie crumbles.
Would this debate have been sparked if the film was made in the same vain as 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' would there have been an uproar about the lack of Caucasian actors?
Well, this is when I point to context, which I mentioned in >>18.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was an asian story set in an Asian world; same as Lord of the Rings was a Nordic tale told from a Nordic world. So no one complained when LOTR was mostly white, or when CTHD was (all, by what I remember) Asian.
Films like the Death Note series were questioned because all the characters were played by Asians, but some of the characters were meant to be caucasion. However, the film had a good reason; there are not many white people in Asia and the film companies are not rich enough to go to different parts of the world (in the case of Death Note, England and/or America.)
However, America is a 'melting pot.' There are Asian actors in America. Some believed that Avatar, with its diverse skin colours in the series, would be a great way of getting ethnic minorities (in particular, East Asians) known.
Also, if the boy who played Aang had no previous acting experience, then, no, I don't think that is a good thing. There are plenty of good actors in America that could do well in that role. On the contary, I think this bodes ill for acting in the film.
Hollywood has a long tradition of making lead characters white or very Americanised. This is done so that the audience can 'relate' to the main character. It's the whole nasty business of 'black face', borderline racist stereotyping and all those other things people hate talking about. Slowly, Hollywood began to move away from that sort of thing and became more 'multi-cultural' but people are still uptight. Like when a black man dies first and without dignity, people notice whenever race is SUPPOSED to be either equal, or less white, but isn't.
It's something that often annoys people, even if it's a childrens film. So for example, The Lion King was criticised for having the Hyeenas played by people of an ethnic minority, one african accent for the monkey, and all the heroes (bar the up tight bird, which was English) were Americans. Then Aladdin got into LOADS of trouble over the title song (something about people being mutilated for stupid reasons) and for having all villains and side characters with accents, but then American heroes (thought the villain was English.)
Also, I think East Asians and other people have a right to be disturbed that a cartoon that used East Asian customs, architecture, philosophy, writing and martial arts has few East Asians representing in the film; their roles were mainly side characters. I'ts the whole 'Asian culture is cool, but Asian people are not.'
This alleged white washing may change if other films are made, (many pro TLA's argue that Toph will probably be Asian) but that's IF another film is made; we have no idea how this first one will do. Some TLA fans are already too annoyed and won't watch this one.
The whole of Airbender the series was basically about all people being equal and fairly represented.
I don't dispute the message of the original medium. The original series was a wonderful way to express a message of racial equality, as well as showing the power of unjustified and ignorant racism.
But Hollywood is Hollywood, a world unto it's own, and the general populace are not as open minded as the minority, there will probably never be an equal footing amongst different ethnic groups when represented or cast in film. The public like what they know, the box office wants our money. Films without bankable cast do not rate well at the box office, independent cinema is as the name suggests a singular thing; perhaps if a lesser known director had taken on the task of recreating the Airbender series there would be a more diverse cast.
I do not disagree with you that there are probably better choices for the cast, and that the different tribes should have been cast in such a way, but that is not how the film industry works; and it probably never will. So there is no point pointing fingers and crying 'racism' because it's just standard practise.
When Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy came out everyone was appalled at the casting of Mos Def as the lead 'WHITE' character, they took a risk and it didn't pay off. When you're talking a budget of millions, why risk a box office flop? You have to remember, M Knight directed it, but he had to get the money from backers, who ultimately control the show.
This is true.
However
a) Just because institutionalised racism is standard, doesn't mean people should or will accept it.
b)By doing this, the director and the company may lose money; the original Airbender fans are the main one's who would pay money to watch it over and over again, and encourage their friends to do so. Instead, the fandom is ripped apart arguing and many are boycotting.
Reviews of the film so far are bad. It has 7% on Rotten tomotoes.
http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/last_airbender/
http://my.spill.com/profiles/blogs/the-last-airbender-audio
There are reports of the original series heads refusing to sign film-related merchandise.
Critics are calling this Shyamalan's worst movie.
... Mein Gott.
>>23
I'm not surprised the film's getting rubbish reviews, many people are obviously angered by the casting.
As for me, the casting is wrong - yes, I agree with you completely, but the casting is down to conform to Hollywood standards and such is the industry.
M. Knight isn't even the best director, there are many who could have done a better job. I'm not surprised the original series makers wont sign over for merchandise.
Either way, I'm still going to go and see it, maybe it'll be a waste of money, but hey.. what are Orange Wednesdays for?
>>25 Except that the casting doesn't seem to be the big sticking point, compared to the wooden acting, awful special effects, and a nigh-incomprehensible plot despite being comprised almost entirely of exposition. In fact, it tends to be more of a post-rant afterthought.
Not having seen the film yet, I can't pass comment.
I suppose if he has managed to destroy his attempt at adaptation it may attract more people to watch the original.
>>25 But that's the fans who argue over casting. Most reviewers would'nt have watched the cartoon and so won't care. Most reviewers are complaining about the points Iaculus raised. It's just not a good film. By what I understand, if films are bad, people are less likely to want to check out the source material.
I just watched it tonight. It was terrible. People, I liked the stupid DRAGONBALL movie more than this!
And seriosuly, they pernounced two of the names wrong! There were three seasons of the show where both Aang and Sokka were spoken billions of times, so there is no excuse for it to be mispronounced in the movie!
Well, did the actors actually watch the show? (A genuine question, since I don't know.) Being in France, I think I'll have to wait to see the movie - I might go just to know... but I fear for my sanity, especially if critics, as Iaculus said, labelled it as Shyamalan's worst movie...
To be honest, I really am starting to think that the whole movie industry takes us for idiots or whatever... and I can't even say I'll go back to French movies because French cinema is... well, no fun at all.
Niori > As for the names being pronounced wrong... WTH? If it were a translation... okay, but here, no excuses - I mean, if I here in the FV that they pronounce it wrong I'd say: okay, French can't dub. But now that you said that...
Just saw the movie tonight, and was horribly disappointed. They also mispronounced Iroh's name. The acting was mediocre and the writing felt forced. They tried to cover too much ground in one movie causing them to rush through key parts. The final battle at the end wasn't bad, but still...